This Little Light of Mine

Jesus said that we are to be the light of the world. How are YOU the light of your little part of the world? Are you shinning your light in the darkness? Do you remember the children's song "This Little Light of Mine"?

This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bush, Oh NO!. I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bush, Oh NO!. I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bush, Oh NO!. I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine. Won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine. Won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, Let it shine.

Have you let the enemy blow out your light? Don't worry. You can get it re-lit. How? By going to the Lord Jesus and ASKING Him to re-light your candle.

Reconciliation of a Marriage

Why is it so important?

 Is it worth trying again even if the divorce proceedings have already started?

What about other family members?

Is it really anyone else’s business if we reconcile?

These are all valid questions. Scripture tells us that we are to make our marriage work. Marriage is HARD work. Marriage is not 50/50 like people think it is. Marriage is 101/101. Yes, you read that right.  Give 101% and expect in return to receive 95%. Sadly, young people go into a marriage for the fairytale wedding and not really look for the hard spots that marriage will bring.

Why is it important?

God did not join two people together as one for it to be broken apart. If a couple claim to be born again Christians it isn’t something to be taken lightly. Scripture tells us that we are to work very hard to keep the marriage intact.

1 Corinthians 7:10-16

                   10: “Unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart form her husband:

                 11: But and if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

                 12: But the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

                 13: And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.”

This is why it’s so important. Especially if children are involved.

                14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean: but now they are holy.

                15: But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace.

                16: For what knowest thou, O wife, weather thou save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 

People tell me, “We have separated because of the children.”  Unless there is physical or mental abuse happening in the home, it is not because of the children. The children are being used as a scape goat in the situation. Leaving a wife or husband because of the children is wrong. Period.  No where in Scripture does it tell us to leave our spouse. Even Jesus Christ Himself was asked a question about leaving your spouse. Please read this correctly. It don’t mean that only the men are at fault, women can do the same thing.

Matthew 19:3-9

              3: The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

              4: And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

              5: And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

              6: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not  man put asunder.

              7: They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

              8: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

              9: And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commiteth adultery: and whosoever marry her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Jesus said that is wasn’t meant for divorce. Not from the beginning. But when pressed on what Moses allowed, he told them, Sorry guys. Moses allowed you to do this because of the HARDNESS of your hearts. Just because it was allowed don’t make right. The Father in heaven didn’t want a couple to divorce. Marriage is hard.

 Is it worth trying again even if the divorce proceedings have already started?   

Yes it is worth trying. The marriage isn’t terminated yet. Any marriage is worth trying. I get it, some people just want out. They really don’t care to try. But it is so worth it especially if children are involved. I wonder if those who don’t want to work on the marriage really truly don’t get it.

Working on the marriage means, get counseling. And don’t expect to have the other person change. You are working on yourself. I have seen some people who wants to be right all the time and they are never wrong. That they are not the problem. They want the other person in the marriage to make all the changes. It will not work. Those are the ones who will not try to work on anything because they don’t see themselves as wrong.

Even Christians fall into this category. Some just can’t wait to be single again. They will use the excuse that “The Lord knows, he will forgive me for the divorce because he loves me.”  Yes he will forgive but what if the Trumpet sounds before they can ask for forgiveness? I don’t know the answer to this really, but just that I’m scared that the person won’t make it for the hardness of their hearts.    

What about other family members?

Yes, What about other family members? It is not their RIGHT nor PLACE to get involved in a marriage they are not partners in themselves. I’m talking about parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc. They can give advice if asked, but it should stop there. Stepping into another’s marriage because you are not happy with your child’s spouse is the wrong thing to do. Not allowing your child to have a relationship with their spouses family is wrong. How does that happen? Keeping your child so busy with your family things that they cannot spend time with the other side of this new little family. It really isn’t anyone else’s place to but into a marriage.

Is it really anyone else’s business if we reconcile?

No. NO. NO! It is no one else’s business except the couple. Not the parents. Not the siblings. Not the grandparents. No one ELSE. The enemy wants to destroy a marriage. Satan is out to destroy anything that God made. And He made marriage. If the enemy can get a couple to divorce, he can hurt so many people with the one act of divorce. He thrives on the loss of love that happens, the distrust, the hurt, also the hatred that can come about in a divorce. Marriage isn’t easy. It’s a lot of work. But it is so worth it.

Furn Vaughan my Friend

Since December 21, 2017 I have known 8 people who have passed away.  In only 4 weeks. That's an average of 2 a week. Staggering statistics if you think about it.

Out of the eight people I knew six of them were ready to meet the Lord. I'm not sure about the other two but God knows. I want to talk about my ex-mother in law  Furn today.

 I haven't been married to her son for over 30 years, yet I was able to reconnect with her a couple of years ago when she got sick with cancer a second time. I would run into her at the store over the years and chitchat about little things. But when the cancer returned, my ex-husbands wife Deborah called me. We talked and I told her to give Furn my number if she needed anything.

 A few months went by and I didn't hear anything. But one day, I received a call from her asking me to come over to her home. Of course I would come.

You see, Furn was brought up in church. She knew the Truth. Her parents made sure their children knew the Truth from a young age. Furn grew up and met her husband Sam and married, had children and hardly went to church again.

I went to visit with her a few times, she was tired from her last round of Chemotherapy but in good humor. Until one day she was upset about dying. Sam called me to come over, so of course I went.

She was laying on the couch sleeping when I arrived. I got on my knees beside the sofa and touched her. She awoke and smiled. I asked her what the matter was. She said she was scared of dying and she wanted to make sure her soul was right with the Lord. It was such a PLEASURE to lead her to the Lord that day she was 70 years old.

This past Easter, Furn wanted to be baptized. Two of her children live out of state so she decided to be baptized on Memorial Day 2017 in her front yard. She was to ill to be put into the water for a full immersion so she sat in a chair in front of her church family and her children. With a gallon of warm water, I poured the water over her head and soaked her from head to toe. She was so happy that day. Her daughters took her in to get her changed and dried. It took a lot out of her, but she was glad she made it.

Father's Day came right after, Sam came to church with her that day. She was radiant. And time passed. I would call and go over to visit.

At Thanksgiving her children ALL came to visit. She was headed downhill. They were worried but happy that she was a Christian. A couple of weeks passed and she was in bad shape. The kids came down the week before Christmas where Furn slipped into a coma. With her children and husband surrounding her she let out a Victory Roar as she left this life and walked into the next with the Lord on December 21, 2017.

Furn will be missed by many. She is missed by me.  I know that one day I will see her again when the Trump of God sounds and the dead in Christ shall rise then we who are remain will be caught up together to be with the Lord.